Holmes commissioners ready to ink $250,000 deal for old BP property

Monday

MILLERSBURG — Holmes County Commissioners on Monday announced plans to purchase the property that was the old BP gas station at state Route 39 and South Monroe.

A purchase agreement has been reached with BellStores that would have the county paying $250,000 for the land and building. The deal will become final once officials work out some minor details and sign it.

Commissioner Joe Miller called it a fair price, noting the amount is less than what BellStores originally paid for it. He said state casino revenue would help fund the purchase.

County officials have yet to decide whether to raise the building immediately and turn the lot into much-needed parking.

Miller envisions a parking lot with some green spaces.

Another option is utilizing the space to temporarily house one or more office while other expansion projects have been put on hold, such as the proposed health department/OSU Extension building on Glen Drive.

"We’ve just got to put things on hold for a little bit that we were going to do," Commissioner Rob Ault said. "That’s one of them. It’s not so much for right now, but we don’t know what the needs are going to be 50 years from now. They’ll need more parking, so while the opportunity’s there, it’s a good time to invest."

Plans for the adjacent property, owned by Anthony Kaufman of Kaufman Realtors, include construction of an office building.

Miller explained that a large part of the county’s revenue comes from sales tax, and with the state of the economy, that is certain to take a big hit in the future. He credited frugal management for the county being on solid ground financially.

"It took 11 years to get where we are, whereas some of these other counties are hurting," Ault said.

Miller added that the county has established a rainy day fund that people have long been after him to spend.

"Well, it’s raining now," he said.

In other business, commissioners approved the plat for Pine Mills Subdivision in Saltcreek Township.

Planning Commission Director Arnie Oliver was asked to explain how the signatures of certain parties were done electronically. He pointed out that the names of the parties in specified areas agreed to sign off on the project.

Ault said he prefers to see actual signatures, and it is taking him some time to adapt to the new technology.

Reach Kevin at 330-674-5676 or klynch@the-daily-record.com.

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